Boat-propelling device.



No. 894,412. PATENTED JULY 28, 1908. J. A. WALKER. BOAT PROPELLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 0c'r.29.19o7.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. WALKER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BOAT-PROPELLING DEVICE.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Boat-Propelling Device, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to boat propelling devices, and has for its principal object to provide a novel means for actuating oars or paddles disposed at the sides of the boat, provision being made for feathering the oars or paddles on the return stroke, so as to lessen the resistance to their passage through the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paddle mounted on a rock shaft and capable of oscillatory movement with the rock shaft as a center, the paddle being, also,

mounted for rotative movement about its longitudinal axls in order to pernnt featherit still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for turning the oars on their longitudinal axes at the comple tion of each stroke. 7

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boat provided with propelling devices constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the oars or paddles about midway of the working stroke. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the oar or paddle at the completion of the return stroke and about to turn on its longitudinal aXis as it commences the working stroke. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view, partly in the nature of a diagram showing the paddle completing the working stroke and turning on its axis. Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the paddle about midway of the working stroke. Fig. 8 is a similar view Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1907.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Serial No. 399,672.

showing the paddle after the completion of the working stroke and starting 011 the return stroke, the paddle being turned to feather its blade. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the paddle on the return stroke. Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating a slight modification of the paddle turning mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail view, similar to Fig. 10, showing quite a different modification of the paddle turning mechanism, wherein the notch with which the plunger is provided in the form shown in Fig. 10, has been omitted to permit of contact of the block withthe wall of the socket.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention, the gunwale or other portion of the boat is provided with suitable bearings for the reception of a plurality of rock shafts 10 that are disposed in parallel relation, and which extend outside the gunwale. In the present instance four of such shafts are shown, and these are connected in pairs by rocker arms 11 and connecting rods 12.

The shafts may be operated in any suitable manner, an electric motor 14 being shown in the present case, and the armature shaft of the mo tor is provided with worms 16 that intermesh with worm wheels 17 that are carried by short shafts mounted in stationary brackets 18. Each worm wheel has a crank pin 19 that is connected to a rocker arm 20 on one of the shafts, by means of a rod 21, and the parts are so proportioned, that each shaft will be rocked through an arc of approximately 120.

On the outer end of each shaft is secured a block 23, from which projects a rigid sleeve 24, and the sleeve and block are both bored for the reception of the loom 25 of a paddle 26, the paddle having a flat blade 27 of ordinary construction. The upper end of the loom has an opening for the passage of a pin 28 which, also, passes through an opening in a rectangular block 30 that bears against the lower face of the sleeve and prevents upward movement of the paddle. Downward movement of the paddle or car is prevented by a pin 28, which extends through the upper end of the loom.

' On the outer face of the boat are two sets of metallic wear plates 32 and 32, the plates 32 having vertical wear surfaces and the plates 32 being in the form of projecting arcuate ribs, the wearing surfaces of which are slightly inclined and which project to a greater distance beyond the side of the vessel than the plates 32.

Each of the plates is provided with a pair of spaced openings 33, through which extend spring cams 34, that are designed to engage with the corners of the blocks 30 and turn said blocks in order that the paddles may be rotated on their axes at the end of each forward and back stroke, the working faces of these cams being approximately on lines radial from the axes of the rock shafts.

The oars or paddles are divided into sets, the four paddles at the forward end constituting one set, and the four paddles at the after end constituting another set, and the gearing connections are so arranged that while the forward paddles are making a working stroke, the after paddles are making the return stroke, and vice versa, so that the propelling force is constant and the momentum of the boat will not be checked to permit the return or recovery of the paddles. When the forward paddles have completed their working stroke and the after paddles have completed the return stroke, the planes of the paddles will cross each other, this, of course,

being permitted by the previously described arrangement of the paddles, the after paddles projecting out beyond the forward paddles and operating on a slightly oblique line corresponding to the inclination of the wear plates or ribs 32, while the forward paddles work in direct vertical planes.

I/Vhen the paddle is in the position shown in Fig. 6 and is about to commence its working stroke, one corner of the block 30 is in engagement with one of the cams 34 and is being turned for the purpose of presenting the blade of the paddle in a position transversely of the boat, and as the stroke continues, the cam will be forced inward and the face of the block 30 will engage against the face of the wear plate 32, so as to hold the paddle steady during the continuation of the working stroke, as shown in Fig. 7. WVhen the paddle reaches the end of its working stroke, the block 30 has passed beyond the second of the cams 32, and then as the return stroke starts, the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 8, the corner of the block engaging with the second cam 34, and being turned for the purpose of revolving the paddle on its axis, and bringing the blade to a position parallel with the boat, so that there will be comparatively small resistance to the blade as it moves on the return stroke, as shown in Fig. 9.

In order to reverse the direction of movement of the boat, it is merely necessary to reverse the o crating device, when the paddles will worr in the opposite direction and propel the boat rearward.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 10, the cams 24 are in the form of inclined blocks, up which the blocks 30 ride, as they complete the stroke in each direction. As soon as the return stroke starts, the edge of the block 30 will engage against a shoulder 34 of the cam and the paddle will be turned to the extent of 90.

All of the mechanism at the upper portion of the looms is inclosed and protected by a suitable casing, only the lower portions of the paddles being exposed, as shown in Figv 1.

One of the principal advantages of the propelling mechanism, is that the paddles operating in direct lines parallel with the line of the keel will serve to some extent as rolling keels, increasing the stability of the boat, and reventing rolling in rough water. The padclles are preferably of such length that they will not extend below the level of the keel, so that the boat may be used in shallow 'water, but for deep water service the paddles may be made of any desired length.

The device may be readily applied to existing boats without any alteration in the construction of the latter, and any number of paddles may be employed in accordance with the power and speed desired.

I claim 1. In combination, a boat, paddles arranged at each side of the boat, sleeves in which the looms of the paddles are mounted, rock shafts carrying said sleeves, blocks projecting from the looms, guiding plates arranged to engage said blocks and hold the paddles from turning movement during the stroke, and spring actuated cams arranged to yield asthey are engaged by the blocks toward the completion of each stroke, said cams serving to engage and turn the blocks as the latter start on the return stroke.

2. In combination, a boat, paddles ar ranged at each side of the boat, a sleeve in which the loom of each paddle is mounted, a rock shaft carrying said sleeve, a block secured to the loom of the paddle and having an angular face, a wear plate against which the face of the block engages, and by which the block and paddle are held from turning movement during the stroke, and a pair of spring actuated cams arranged to engage the block at the end of the stroke and effect a partial turning movement of the block and paddle.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a rock shaft, a collar secured to the end of the rock shaft, a sleeve extending from the collar, a paddle having a loom portion extending through the sleeve, means for preventing downward movement of the paddle through the sleeve, a rectangular block secured to the loom and bearing against the lower end of the sleeve, a wear plate with which the block engages, said wear plate being provided with recesses near its opposite ends, and spring actuated cams extending through such recesses and arranged to engage with and turn the block after the completion of each stroke of the paddle.

4. In combination, a boat, a set of forward paddles, and a set of aft paddles carried by the boat, one set being extended to a greater distance beyond the beam than the other, and means for effecting the Working stroke of the sets of paddles alternately.

5. In combination, a boat, a set of forward paddles and a set of aft paddles carried thereby, one set of paddles projecting a greater distance beyond the beam than the other set and being arranged to operate at a slight angle to the Vertical, and means for effecting the working stroke of the sets of 5 paddles alternately.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J AMES A. l/VALKER.

Witnesses:

WM. J. NEALE, JAs. M. WALKER. 

